What should you do when a Google search reveals an FTC lawsuit against someone who shares your exact name, even though it’s not you?

I’m venting because I’ve reached my breaking point. To summarize: my unique name matches that of an individual in Canada who was involved in a major FTC lawsuit in the U.S. regarding a telemarketing scheme that occurred between 2001 and 2005 (or possibly 2008). I’ve never even been to Canada, and in 2001, I was still in high school. I can’t shake the concern that when I apply for jobs and my information gets searched, potential employers will mistakenly associate me with this lawsuit, which could lead to automatic rejections. The search result for this lawsuit appears right beneath my LinkedIn profile, and over the past two years, I’ve watched these devastating links slowly rise in Google’s rankings.

When I try to explain this situation to people in person, some agree it’s something I need to address—but how can I confront this issue when I can’t get the conversation started? I’ve even drafted a cover letter to tackle the problem head-on, and I’d like to share it here (with some personal details removed) to vent a little:

Dear Hiring Manager,

This cover letter will take a somewhat unconventional approach. While my resume outlines my qualifications in detail, I want to address a concerning issue that arises when my name is Googled.

My name is “—,” but it is also the exact name of someone linked to a significant FTC lawsuit. The second search result that appears beneath my LinkedIn profile is for this lawsuit involving a person with my name, but this is not me. My name is so unique that I’ve never encountered anyone else with it.

According to Casetext, this ruling occurred in Chicago in 2007, involving corporate defendants from Canada. The complaint states that from 2001 until September 2005, unsolicited calls were made to consumers across the U.S. However, I am from [U.S. state], was born and raised in America, and I have never lived in Canada or Illinois, nor did I have any involvement in telemarketing.

This situation has been incredibly frustrating. I worry that some employers may rely solely on a Google search instead of conducting a proper background check, leading to my automatic rejection to avoid perceived risks. I want to proactively address this issue with you. If you have any questions or would prefer to discuss this matter further, I would be happy to arrange a one-on-one or group discussion.

Thank you for your understanding.

Any advice on how to deal with this bizarre situation would be greatly appreciated!